OMA research finds virtual care not associated with strain on emergency departments
Ontario patients did not turn to emergency departments as a substitute for in-person visits during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That from new research from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the records of its nearly 8,000 doctors.
Medical professionals said they're not surprised with the findings; many doctors had to make a switch to virtual when the government paused most non-emergency services.
"When medically appropriate, virtual care is incredibly convenient. You don't need to take a day off work or a child out of school or put an elderly parent in the vehicle and drive them when the weather's bad," said OMA president Dr. Rose Zacharias.
According to the OMA, in 2018, only four per cent of family doctors offered video visits, while virtual care now accounts for more than a quarter of all visits.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
What makes this important, the association said it didn't find evidence people were going to the emergency room because in-person care was less available.
Zacharias said every Ontarian knows emergency rooms right now are strained.
"It's only natural to ask why, somethings new and different like virtual care being done by a good majority of family doctors from their offices, is that contributing to the strain on the emergency departments and this study released today shows us the answer is clearly ‘no,’" she said.
Dave Courtemanche is the executive director of the City of Lakes Family Health Team.
He told CTV News virtual appointments have proven to be a useful tool among their physicians.
"When you ask patients, lots of patients appreciate that option. Especially here in northern Ontario and in the middle of winter," Courtemanche said.
"I think it's made access easier and of course there are issues, you have to have the Internet infrastructure, both at your clinic and in the patients' home, you have to have appropriate bandwidth, all of those things come into play so far some patients, maybe it's not as easy but for people who live far from the clinic and are trying to get access, it's easier," he added.
The OMA study looked at records of 7,936 physicians in family health groups and family health organizations from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.
The full study can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
'I won't stop,' Celine Dion says in trailer for upcoming doc about her health woes
Celine Dion's fans are getting a first glimpse of the superstar's struggle with a rare neurological disorder in an emotional trailer for an upcoming documentary about her career and life.
Rapper Sean Kingston's home raided by SWAT; mother arrested on fraud and theft charges
A SWAT team raided rapper Sean Kingston's rented South Florida mansion on Thursday and arrested his mother on fraud and theft charges that an attorney says stem partly from the installation of a massive TV at the home.
Tim Meadows pledges not to shave until the Oilers win the cup, who are the team's other famous fans?
An unlikely celebrity emerged from social media to cheer on the Edmonton Oilers as they face the Dallas Stars tonight in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.